The 80-year-old manager of the U Hold The Key Self Storage in Newcastle, England, is retiring and handing over the reins to his 64-year-old successor. Peter Robson has been employed by the facility, which is owned by the Parsons Containers Ltd., since it opened in 2002. He’s been grooming Arthur Jennings to take his place since his last birthday, according to the source.
During Robson’s employment, the U Hold facility has doubled in size. The property in the Benfield Business Park now contains more than 300 container-storage units. “It has been a pleasure to play a part in that growth. I have had the privilege to meet some [of the] most interesting customers and staff, and have made friendships [that] I am sure will last. My time at U Hold The Key has been a happy and enjoyable experience,” Robson said.
Robson approved of the company’s decision to hire Jennings. “Arthur is the new man at the helm, and I am sure he will do a good job as he is keen and enthusiastic about the business,” Robson said. “His vast experience in management in the oil and gas industry around the world stands him in good stead to deal with customers and manage the site. I wish him well.”
A native of Northeast England, Jennings will oversee day-to-day operation of the property. “After many years working offshore and onshore overseas, I wanted a new challenge. I heard about the site manager role at the Newcastle U Hold The Key site, which I used myself when I was moving house, and took the opportunity to apply,” Jennings said. “Peter has made everything seem so easy. I am looking forward to the task ahead and feeling well-prepared.”
Jennings joins U Hold at a time of significant expansion, the source reported. The company has opened three new facilities in the area in the last six months due to an increase in demand for storage. The new facilities in Darlington, Southwick and Sunderland, England, have added 500 container-storage units to the company’s existing 1,000. U Hold operates eight total facilities in the country.
“We are very sad to see Peter leave us for his well-earned retirement. After a career in the rail industry, he brought his excellent organizational skills to our storage business, and I think everyone who knows him will agree he has kept a well-run operation,” said Ean Parsons, managing director for Parsons. “His young successor, Arthur, also brings a wealth of operational and commercial experience to the role, and I am sure he will do a great job. We aren’t letting Peter escape completely, as he’s going to mentor a member of our head office team in Sedgefield for a while.”
Parsons Containers is an independent supplier of shipping containers in Northeast England.
